deadwaxdarling

Grace (1994)

★★★★½ Jun 28, 2026

It is hard to hear this album and not think about how much Jeff Buckley could do with a single line. A lot of people talk about the voice first and fair enough, because it is unreal, but what keeps me coming back is how strong the songs are underneath all that emotion. Grace can be heavy, dramatic, even a little theatrical, yet it never feels fake to me. The quieter moments matter just as much as the bigger ones. Last Goodbye is still the easy favorite, but the whole album has that rare feeling of someone reaching for everything they have and actually landing it.

Solid Air (1973)

Solid Air | 1973 | UK | Island Records | ILPS 9226 | Vinyl LP, Album

★★★★½ Jun 28, 2026

This one has that late night warmth I always want from older records. The folk, jazz, and blues parts blend so naturally that it never feels like a statement album trying to show off its taste. It just flows. The title track being tied to Nick Drake gives the whole record an extra ache, but even outside that song there is something heavy and tender in the air here. This UK Island pressing suits it because the album lives on atmosphere and touch. Really beautiful record and somehow both loose and precise at the same time.